Positive signs in the soccer arena
The issue had been over-flogged for long, but unfortunately, refereeing in Nigeria has been bottled by its high-ranking custodians, and it seems to be helplessly gasping for a life-saving breathe and with this development, however, it appears, the noble profession would be graciously uncorked and treated with the needed survival oxygen.We cannot continue to shy […]
The issue had been over-flogged for long, but unfortunately, refereeing in Nigeria has been bottled by its high-ranking custodians, and it seems to be helplessly gasping for a life-saving breathe and with this development, however, it appears, the noble profession would be graciously uncorked and treated with the needed survival oxygen.
We cannot continue to shy away from the truth, that, Nigeria referee need refereeing-brain to create incubator of ideas, which cannot be rightly achieved under the current dispensation. It needs those with referee pedigree, who had served the profession passionately and selflessly.
It is clear that many pundits seem to associate refereeing structure with the rambunctious routines of politicians who lack professional grounding and therefore adopt politicking referee as their interest. These assumptions, though common here, are untenable and misleading in global assessment of refereeing sector profile. Refereeing cannot continue to attach any significance to those dancing around its development. Just as the facts and figures of result-oriented refereeing sector always speak for themselves, so also is the unabated FIFA or CAF rejection speaks for average-performing refereeing sector.
Chris Green and his committee have shown patriotism, courage and commitment to the development of our game. We thereby urge the Hon. Minister for Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission to give assent to these recommendations for the good of the game. Nigerian image and our refereeing values will benefit immensely from them.
Rahman S. Olawoyin, FIFA/CAF Trained Referee Assessor/Instructor, Kaduna. <[email protected]>;